The "t-Abyss Virus" (Tyrant-Abyss Virus) was a weaponized marine virus based on the t-virus. It was developed by a research team of the FBC (Federal Bioterrorism Commission) after combining the t-virus with genetic material from The Abyss virus, which possessed fish genes. It was not much of a threat alone, but it posed great risk to the world if it were ever leaked into the ocean. It helped lay the groundwork for the study of weaponized marine viruses. The virus also displayed how easy it had become to develop viruses that could mutate across species, even able to create B.O.W.s using fish based genes and give some creatures aquatic attributes. Several new types of B.O.W.s were developed with it. All traces of the virus were neutralized in 2005, however the last remaining sample was retrieved by the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium.
History
At some point, a team of scientists at the University of Montpellier ocean laboratory carried out the fourth deep-sea investigation at the Kermadec Trench via an unmanned submersible exploration vessel. At 9000 meters, a new type of super deep-sea predatory fish was discovered. This creature, in addition to the usual tolerance to high pressures, displayed an unbelievable degree of motility and ferocity not usually found at such depths. A research team of the FBC (Federal Bioterrorism Commission) based on the Queen Zenobia was responsible for studying the fish. They were surprised after examining it that its unique traits were not native to the fish's biology, but were caused by a viral infection. After extracting the virus, it was named "The Abyss" after the fear of unfathomable depth and they began to genetically map it and improve the virus for weaponization.
As the genetic mapping of The Abyss virus neared completion, the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium offered the assistance of its research branch via their contacts in an unnamed country. They proposed combining The Abyss with the t-virus developed by the Umbrella Corporation in order to make their virus more suited for research and experimentation. As a result, "t-Abyss" was developed. The new recombination virus, which utilized the DNA of sea-based organisms as its base, made it easier to create B.O.W.s. However, the speed at which The Abyss triggered transformation was so rapid, it broke down the cellular structure of the host. This problem was overcome by adjusting the rate at which infection occurred in the host's body. One unanticipated side effect was that half of the host's solid mass, including musculature and bones, were liquefied during infection. The host's body would became highly malleable, allowing it to attack a target from unexpected places.
Some hosts showed the ability to secrete their liquefied bony material from their hands and feet, giving their appendages sharp, protective coverings. Human hosts such as these were designated with the codename "Ooze". Such hosts only retained humanoid form with much effort, and while they could sustain this form, they lacked all visible resemblance to their former selves. The research team conducted many experiments with many infected hosts in an attempt to perfect the virus.
While infecting various species of fish with t-Abyss as part of their research into marine-based B.O.W.s, one of the test subjects was contaminated with Gyrodactylus salaris, a small monogenean ectoparasite. When t-Abyss was used to infect the host, it also affected the parasite. The unique mutations formed by the dual infections allowed them to improve their overall B.O.W. development. This type of host was named "Malacoda".
If a concentrated liquid form of the virus were to be released in a large enough area of the sea, it would contaminate all of the world's oceans in a very short time, starting with bacteria at the point of contamination and then causing a chain reaction that would impact all forms of sea life. Once the virus contaminates an area of the sea, it would cause mutations at the genetic level to all life forms in the area. It would be impossible to predict the severe ecological threat on humanity. It was also decided that the virus was useless as a product until a vaccine that could prevent infection was also developed, and much more data from clinical trials was needed for that to happen, and deriving antibodies from a few test subjects would require time and luck.
In 2004, eight samples of t-Abyss were provided to the terrorist group "Il Veltro" by FBC Commissioner Morgan Lansdale in order to carry out a large-scale bioterrorism attack on the artificial marine city of Terragrigia. The research team used the attack in order to observe the spread and mutation of the virus, valuable data which would advance the development of a vaccine. After Terragrigia was completely destroyed, the virus was spread on the Queen Zenobia ship, making it the only place where the research team could continue observing its spread and mutation. Furthermore, the world became afraid of the virus.
In 2005, a vaccine was successfully developed. After the research data was sent to Lansdale, he locked down the Queen Zenobia and released the B.O.W.s from their cryogenic stasis, dooming the research team. Agents Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine of the BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) successfully neutralized t-Abyss to prevent it from leaking into the ocean. At the same time, an agent of the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium named Raymond Vester retrieved a sample of the virus for the consortium.